Young researchers inspire with exciting findings at the University of Trier!

Young researchers inspire with exciting findings at the University of Trier!

On May 7, 2025, numerous young scientists gathered at the University of Trier to present their latest research work. Among the speakers was the Japanologist Maren Haufs-Brusberg, who discussed the interconnection of Korean-born authors in Japan in the context of postcolonial world history. This reflected the recent societal confrontation with German colonialism, which challenges educational science to reflect on fundamental questions, including the way in which colonial ambitions have been historically legitimized as educational projects ew.uni-hamburg.de explained in detail.

Another highlight of the day was the lecture by legal scholar Manuel Beh, who discussed the question of whether chance should decide who is supplied with water in times of water shortage. Beh came to the conclusion that chance was not suitable as a regulatory instrument. This finding could also have implications for social debates that deal with resource distribution.

Recognition for achievements

The event also included honoring several publication award winners. University President Prof. Dr. Eva Martha Eckkrammer congratulated the young researchers on their remarkable achievements in addition to their doctorates. The honored people include Dr. Lisa Marie Maukel (psychology), Kai Kugler and Simon Münker (computational linguistics), Dr. Florian Feil (ancient history) and Yasmine Beck (mathematics). Junior Professor Dr. Patrick Reinard, spokesman for the Graduate Center, compared the achievements of the award winners to a marathon, which underlines the endurance and commitment of these young scientists uni-trier.de reported.

Another notable lecture came from business economist Dr. Michael Hahn, who examined the dynamics in teams working together virtually. His research found that such teams do not learn from failure as well as face-to-face teams, which has important implications for the modern world of work. The psychologist Julia Matthes complemented this with her analysis of the influence of prior knowledge, intelligence and motivation on learning success in various educational contexts.

Education in the context of colonialism

In the spirit of critical reflection on colonialism in education, the Claussen Simon Foundation initiated the project “Education, Education, (Post-)Colonialism in University Teaching”. Under the direction of Prof. Dr. Sylvia Kesper-Biermann offers seminars that deal with the connection between educational science and colonial history. The results, including session concepts and literature, are accessible via the online learning management system OpenOlat.

The project invites students to engage with postcolonial theories and perspectives on upbringing and education. The aim is to recognize and reflect on ongoing colonial power structures in educational institutions. This occurs in the context of an ongoing discussion about the role of education in coming to terms with the colonial past and its impact on the present, with the project running until March 31, 2024.

The event at the University of Trier was therefore not only a platform for academic presentations, but also a space for in-depth discussions about the role of science in society and how it deals with the challenges of the present, including the colonial past.